Landmark public space for the city gains new ground

City of Newcastle Council has awarded a tender to demolish the 59-year-old Mall Car Park, with work set to commence in early August 2021.
The contract is valued at $3.7 million and will be completed by mid-November 2021.
City of Newcastle commissioned a structural assessment of the seven-storey car park in March 2020, following issues with concrete spalls falling from the building. The car park has been closed since, due to concerns around public safety.
City of Newcastle Director of Governance David Clarke said the next step is to safely remove the Mall Car Park and continue engaging with the community and key stakeholders on how to best use the newfound space for the betterment of the city.
“The Mall Car Park has significantly outlived its likely life and restoring it is not a viable option. By demolishing the 59-year-old car park we are also removing a significant structural risk to the city and a major asbestos source,” Mr Clarke said.
“Once the car park is demolished, a stunning view corridor will open up and bring to the fore a long-held strategic vision of City of Newcastle and the NSW Government to connect the city to the harbour.”
The vision proposes to link Christ Church Cathedral to the Harbour via a grand staircase, inspired by Rome’s Spanish Steps. Accessibility for the community is a key consideration to ensure everyone can share and enjoy the proposed space, in addition to retaining 380 public car parking spaces for the community to utilise.
“The City has one chance to preserve the view corridor to the Cathedral and has the full support of The Property Council and Urban Design Review Panel to turn a long-held concept into a landmark public space for the city,” Mr Clarke said.
“The concept aims to provide a beautiful public asset for our community and a world-class attraction for visitors, whilst retaining 380 car parking spaces in a central location of our city’s revitalised east end.
“Early community engagement indicates 75 per cent of people surveyed support the landmark concept which would feature a 93 metre long and 20 metre wide public space and stairway extending from Hunter Street to King Street, enabling wide and accessible pedestrian access, active shop fronts, landings and courtyards along the proposed staircase to gather and meet. A third of people believe the concept would be a unique feature for Newcastle that would attract tourists.
“We are still in the early stages of engaging with the community and key stakeholders and are continuing to work with Iris Capital to explore this exciting vision and determine whether it can be done in a manner that meets community planning expectations.”

Mass vaccination rollout boost

The Berejiklian Government will establish two new mass vaccination centres, plus a large clinic in the heart of the city in preparation for a larger supply of Pfizer vaccines, boosting the NSW contribution to the Federal Government’s vaccine rollout.
The new sites add to the NSW Health 100 vaccination clinics and outreach locations across the state.
The NSW Health vaccination sites complement the GP Network, which has and will continue to deliver the majority of COVID-19 vaccines across NSW.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the NSW Government is ready and willing to support getting vaccine doses out as quickly and as safely as possible.
“In NSW we have a sense of urgency about getting jabs in arms, because once the vast majority of our population is vaccinated, we can start a conversation about reaching a ‘covid-normal’ state,” Ms Berejiklian said.
One of the new mass vaccination centres will be established in South West Sydney at an old Coles building in Macquarie Fields, the other will be in the Illawarra in a former David Jones building on Crown Street in Wollongong – together they will deliver tens of thousands of additional jabs each week.
They are in addition to the state’s nation-leading hub at Sydney Olympic Park, plus a second mass vaccination centre in the Hunter Region, due to open within weeks.
In addition, a Sydney City vaccination hub site has been secured close to light and heavy rail lines that will serve city workers and residents through extended opening hours.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the rapid development of sites is a credit to the hard work of local staff in health districts across the state.
“NSW is increasing access to vaccination in ever expanding numbers of local communities, with hundreds of NSW Health staff expected to be on site at the opened clinics,” Mr Hazzard said.
Each NSW Health mass vaccination centre will follow ATAGI advice and administer AstraZeneca to people 60 years and over, as well as Pfizer to people 40 years and over (in addition to those in categories directed by the Federal Government as priorities).

NSW pharmacies to join vaccine rollout

Twenty-two pharmacies across regional and rural NSW will begin administering the AstraZeneca jab as part of a pilot program, in another boost to the vaccine rollout.
The first pharmacies to administer the COVID-19 vaccine in NSW will be available from mid-July for people 60 and over and are located where access to a GP or vaccine clinic is more limited due to geography.
They are located in regional towns, including Gulgong, Narromine, Walcha, Dungog, Dunedoo and Merriwa.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said community pharmacists already have an important role in Australia’s vaccination program, administering vaccines including the yearly flu jab.
“We know that some of these communities have limited local access to general practitioner services and having these pharmacies involved will assist with the phased rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine to these communities,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This is a vital step to help ensure as many people in NSW as possible receive their COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said there is currently significant demand for vaccination bookings across NSW and this new pathway will make it easier for people right across the state to get their jab.
“I want to reassure the community that everyone in NSW who wants to be vaccinated, will be vaccinated as soon as possible when it’s their turn,” Mr Hazzard said.
Community pharmacies will need to meet certain standards in order to administer COVID-19 vaccines. These include:

  • Must not supply or administer the vaccine to a person who is under the age of 60, or a patient with a contraindication or precaution to vaccination;
  • Written consent from a patient;
  • Mandatory training for vaccinators;
  • Recording of each vaccination; and
  • Conduct vaccinations under approved practice standards.

It is expected additional pharmacies will join the COVID-19 vaccination program in the future. This also paves the way for pharmacies to further assist NSW in supporting the Commonwealth Government’s rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.
Participating pharmacies

  1. Pharmasave Baradine Pharmacy, 24 Wellington Street, Baradine
  2. Bellingen Pharmacy, 70 Hyde Street, Bellingen
  3. Capital Chemist Braidwood, 128 Wallace Street, Braidwood
  4. Coraki Pharmacy, 55 Queen Elizabeth Drive, Coraki
  5. Denman Pharmacy, 32 Ogilvie Street, Denman
  6. Dorrigo Plateau Pharmacy, 67 Hickory Street, Dorrigo
  7. Dunedoo Pharmacy, 86 Bolaro Street, Dunedoo
  8. Williams Valley Pharmacy, 182 Dowling Street, Dungog
  9.  Finley Pharmacy, 122-124 Murray Street, Finley
  10. Gilgandra Pharmacy, 49 Miller Street, Gilgandra
  11. Gulgong Dispensary, 119 Mayne Street, Gulgong
  12. Guyra Pharmacy, 106 Bradley Street, Guyra
  13. Soul Pattinson Chemist Kyogle, 111 Summerland Way, Kyogle
  14. Marulan Pharmacy, 50-52 George Street, Marulan
  15. Merriwa Pharmacy, 106 Bettington Street, Merriwa
  16. Narromine Pharmacy, 53 Dandaloo Street, Narromine
  17. Old Bar Pharmacy, 1/48 Old Bar road, Old Bar
  18. Uralla Pharmacy, 72-74 Bridge Street, Uralla
  19. The Urunga Pharmacy, 10 Bowra Sreet, Uranga
  20. Kings Pharmacy, 10N Derby Street, Walcha
  21. Wallerawang Pharmacy, 60A Main Street, Wallerawang
  22. Wentworth Pharmacy, 15 Sandwych Street, Wentworth

Macquarie Park set to be transformed

Macquarie Park is set to be transformed into a world-class innovation district, creating tens of thousands of jobs and more than 7,500 new homes, with a new 20-year strategy now on public exhibition.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said it was an exciting day for one of Sydney’s leading employment centres.
“Our discussions with the local community and businesses have shaped this proposal to create a world-class precinct that will become an economic and employment powerhouse in Sydney,” Mr Stokes said.
“We’ve worked closely with the Greater Sydney Commission (GSC) and City of Ryde Council to deliver a dynamic vision for the future of Macquarie Park through to 2041 and beyond.”
The Macquarie Park Place Strategy plans for:

  • 20,000 new jobs;
  • Seven new neighbourhoods, delivered in stages, with up to 7,650 homes;
  • More than 14 hectares of new parks, squares, plazas, cycleways, linear parks and 2.7 hectares of enhanced open space;
  • Enhanced connection to Lane Cove National Park and increased tree canopy across the precinct.

The three Sydney Metro stations delivered in 2019 at Macquarie University, Macquarie Park and North Ryde have laid the foundations for growth in the early stages of the precinct’s construction.

Member for Ryde Victor Dominello said a strong pipeline of local infrastructure, including roads, schools, public transport, open spaces and sporting facilities, would underpin the strategy.
“Macquarie Park will be transformed into a modern hub that will be the backbone of the local economy for decades to come,” Mr Dominello said.
“The infrastructure being built across the Ryde electorate will support the continued growth of Macquarie Park as a health, education and technology jobs precinct.”
The GSC’s North District Commissioner Dr Deborah Dearing said the plans, developed under the State Infrastructure Services Assessment (SISA), are an important milestone.
“The SISA will ensure there’s a proper analysis of the infrastructure needs for Macquarie Park, alongside a place strategy and plan for growth,” Dr Dearing said.
The Macquarie Park Place Strategy is on exhibition until 10 August 2021.  For more information, visit www.planning.nsw.gov.au/macquariepark

Wanted man charged after entering Lake Macquarie to flee police

A man wanted on outstanding warrants has been charged after allegedly entering the water at Lake Macquarie to flee police earlier today.
About 11.20am (Wednesday 30 June 2021), officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District attended a home on Mariam Street, Mannering Park, to arrest a man wanted on outstanding warrants.
On arrival, police observed a man run from the home and jump over the back fence.
Police followed and commenced a foot pursuit, before the man ran onto a jetty and jumped into the waters of Lake Macquarie at Mannering Park.
Officers entered the water and with assistance from PolAir, he returned to shore and was arrested about 11.30am.
During a search, police seized more than $1100 cash, and a crystal substance which returned a positive result for methylamphetamine.
The 33-year-old man was taken to Wyong Police Station and charged with destroy/damage property with intent to endanger life, possess prohibited drug, aggravated robbery and inflict actual bodily harm and two outstanding warrants.
The man was refused bail to appear at Wyong Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 1 July 2021).

Police officer issued PIN after Public Health Order breach – Mount Colah

A Superintendent with the NSW Police Force has been issued a Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) after breaching an order under the Public Health Act in Sydney’s north yesterday (Wednesday 30 June 2021).
NSW Police received information today (Thursday 1 July 2021) in relation to a possible breach of Public Health Orders at a fast food outlet in Mount Colah yesterday (Wednesday 30 June 2021).
Inquiries revealed a 53-year-old man, who is a Superintendent with the NSW Police Force, was not wearing a face mask while inside the premises.
Police spoke with the officer before issuing a $200 PIN for not wear fitted face covering when in indoor area of retail/business premises.
In total, 65 PINs were issued yesterday and of those 52 were $200 infringements for failing to wear a fitted face covering.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Recycling industry ignored in lead-up to waste export ban

The Government’s failure to mandate Australia’s recycling targets is to blame for any recyclable items sent to landfill because of tomorrow’s introduction of a waste export ban.
Greens spokesperson for Waste and Recycling, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, said the waste and recycling sector’s concerns about tomorrow’s change were not new.
“The recycling industry has been very clear in voicing its concerns and demands in the lead-up to the national waste export ban, and the Environment Minister chose to ignore these.
“The recycling sector has consistently called for mandatory national packaging targets – such as minimum recycled content in packaging – in order to have the confidence to invest in the infrastructure necessary to process plastic and other wastes banned from export.
“The Recycling and Waste Reduction Bill 2020 would have mandated the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation’s voluntary recycling and packaging targets, had the Liberal Party not refused to support Greens amendments.
“These targets were supported by the recycling industry and a broad range of stakeholders, but the Liberals let party politics get in the way of introducing good legislation.
“The recycling industry has made it abundantly clear that voluntary packaging and recycling targets have been a complete failure in the past. The industry clearly has no trust that voluntary targets will be met by packaging companies in the future without government intervention.
“Confidence in meeting these targets is critical to the recycling sector as it provides the certainty necessary to underpin investments and upgrades in recycling technology and capacity in this nation, all of which is necessary to effectively deal with our own waste problems.
“The Liberal National Party coalition has repeatedly chosen to back big packaging companies that oppose mandatory targets over a recycling industry that demands them, and which employs over 60,000 Australians.
“The reason the recycling industry continues to be sidelined by the Liberal National Party coalition is because this Government is more concerned with receiving donations from powerful packaging companies than supporting local communities and the environment.”

$180 million in medical research to improve the lives of Australians

The Morrison Government is investing $180 million in ground-breaking medical research projects around Australia to improve the lives of Australians and their loved ones.
Funded through the Government’s $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund, 106 medical research projects will receive funding to improve health outcomes, including for Australians with cancer, dementia, brain injuries, heart problems, neurofibromatosis and many others.
$18.7 million will be provided through the Stem Cell Mission for 17 projects that will address illnesses facing many Australians and their families, including heart disease, COVID-19, epilepsy and childhood cancer.
The Murdoch Children’s Institute will receive almost $1 million to evaluate the potential of a bioengineered heart tissue to be used for congenital heart repair in children. This project will radically transform patient outcomes and improve the quality of life of children affected by heart disease.
Through the Genomics Health Futures Mission, 17 researchers will receive a share of $46.5 million for genomics research, which will support health clinicians to identify genetic disorders and diagnose rare diseases faster, positioning Australia as a global leader in this area.
Australian researchers fighting against paediatric and childhood cancers will also receive $18.4 million as part of the 2020 Paediatric Cancer Grant Opportunity and 2020 Childhood Cancer Research Grant Opportunity, to improve treatment, therapies and survival rates for Australian kids.
To improve health outcomes for Australian patients, we’re investing $12.9 million in seven research projects that will use data to improve access, quality, safety and efficiency of our primary health care system as part of the 2020 Primary Healthcare Research Data Infrastructure grants.
Monash University will receive $9.6 million to focus on discovery research projects, including next-generation precision oncology, tumour immunotherapy and epigenomics, which will help make a real world difference for the thousands of Australian kids each year facing a cancer diagnosis and the fight of their lives.
Cancer remains the leading cause of death in Australia. We’re providing $21 million through the 2020 Improving Diagnosis in Cancers with Low Survival Rates Grant Opportunity to eight projects, which aim to improve the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, as well as cancers where the primary site or origin is unknown.
We are supporting home grown research into cardiovascular health, with $20.1 million in new funding to support 16 projects from real-time cardiac monitoring, to after stroke care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, from medicine management for stroke patients to arm strength and rehabilitation.
We’re providing $17 million for 11 research projects as part of the Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission, which will help senior Australians maintain their health and quality of life as they age, keep their independence for longer and access quality care when they need it.
Seven projects will receive a share of $7.4 million to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the 2020 Indigenous Health Research Grant Opportunity.
Australian researchers at the University of Melbourne are investigating further COVID-19 vaccine candidates. Through the COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Research grants, we’re providing $6 million to the University for two projects to help protect Australians against future pandemics.
The 2020 International Clinical Trial Collaborations grant opportunity is providing $5.6 million for three projects, which will bring international clinical trials into back pain, caesarean births and Hodgkin lymphoma.to Australia.
$4.6 million will also be provided through the 2020 Neurofibromatosis Research grant opportunity to four Australian research projects looking into neurofibromatosis – a devastating genetic condition that can cause cancer, blindness, deafness, and chronic pain.
To help improve the lives of Australians who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), we’re providing $3.3 million to six projects through the Traumatic Brain Injury Mission.
These grants are part of the Morrison Government’s $20 billion Medical Research Future, which is a long-term, sustainable investment in Australian health and medical research helping to improve lives, build the economy and contribute to the sustainability of the health system.
Further information about the MRFF is available at www.health.gov.au/mrff

2020 Genomics Health Futures Mission Grant Opportunity
Institution Project Funding
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute The Australian Functional Genomics Network $6 million
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute A national large-scale automated reanalysis program to increase rare disease diagnosis $3 million
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute New technologies for improved diagnosis of ataxia and the repeat expansion disorders $653,000
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Mitochondrial Diagnostic Network for Genomics and Omics $3 million
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute The Australian Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN-Aus): An internationally networked national approach for transforming diagnosis for individuals living with rare diseases $3 million
James Cook University The KidGen National Kidney Genomics Program – improving genomic outcomes for Australian families with genetic kidney disease $3 million
University of Western Australia Closing the gap in diagnosis of neurological disorders including ataxias and neuropathies – a trans-Australia collaboration $3 million
University of Melbourne Genetic mosaicism as a stable and robust blood DNA biomarker for precision risk assessment for cancer $2.1 million
University of Melbourne Precision Diagnosis for the Remaining 50% of Unsolved Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies $3 million
University of Melbourne Diagnosis, discovery and novel phenotype characterisation using multimodal genomics in patients with inherited bone marrow failure and related disorders $3 million
University of Melbourne Evaluating clinically relevant biomarkers to improve early detection and treatment of head and neck cancer $2.2 million
University of Melbourne Novel predictive disease modelling using liquid biopsies to improve outcomes in melanoma $2 million
University of Sydney Genomic risk prediction and risk-tailored screening and early detection for common cancers $3 million
Monash University Population genomic screening of young adults to prevent cancer in Australia $3 million
University of Queensland Improving genomic testing rates for inoperable lung cancer patients $2.5 million
Flinders University A liquid biopsy DNA methylation blood test for personalised treatment of patients with gastrointestinal cancers $2 million
Macquarie University Integrated Multimodal Precision Liquid biopsy to Enhance MElanoma and NSCLC Treatment (IMPLEMENT) $2 million

2020 Stem Cell Therapies Mission Grant Opportunity
Institution Project Funding
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Evaluating safety and efficacy of bioengineered heart tissue for congenital heart repair $999,000
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute New therapies preventing heart damage during chemotherapy $879,000
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Stem cell models of glomerular kidney disease for understanding disease and developing treatments $934,000
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute  
Insights into CDKL5 neuronal regulation: pathways to improving neurological outcomes for CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder		 $854,000
University of Melbourne Stem cell therapies for digestive disease $584,000
University of Melbourne iPSC clinical trials – population wide screening of patient iPSC’s to reassess high value drug targets for motor neuron disease $1 million
University of Sydney Induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes: a new therapy for “no-option” end stage heart failure
 		 $5 million
University of Sydney Stem Cell Derived-Retinal Organoids to Test Novel Genetic Therapies $498,000
University of Sydney  
Improving decisions about access to stem cell interventions
 		 $800,000
Monash University Locally administered extracellular vesicles for perianal fistulising Crohn’s disease $936,000
The University of Adelaide A Precision Medicine Based Approach to Treat Craniosynostosis in Children $441,000
The University of Adelaide Developing an Evidence-Based Model for Building Trust in Australian Stem Cell Research and Therapies $995,000
University of Wollongong Novel SMART AAV vectors for gene therapy for Friedreich’s Ataxia $983,000
The University of Queensland Transforming the paradigm of epilepsy care with precision medicine $1 million
University of South Australia Identification and assessment of new treatment options for the childhood cancer Neuroblastoma $982,000
South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Limited Engineered human stem cells for mutation-specific eradication of myelofibrosis $853,000
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) the sySTEMs initiative: systems biology-augmented, stem cell-derived, multi-tissue panel for rapid screening of approved drugs as potential COVID-19 treatments $998,000

2020 Paediatric Cancer Grant Opportunity
Institution Project Funding
Monash University The Victoria Paediatric Cancer Consortium: A multi-institutional partnership to catalyze advances in childhood cancer research and clinical implementation $9.6 million

2020 Childhood Cancer Research Grant Opportunity
Institution Project Funding
University of New South Wales Improving outcomes for children with high risk cancer $1.5 million
University of New South Wales Rationalised inclusion of HDAC inhibitors with standard-of-care chemotherapy to improve outcomes for primary and relapsed neuroblastoma $614,000
University of Melbourne Studying the origins, maintenance and resistance mechanisms of poor prognosis paediatric leukaemia at single cell resolution to develop novel therapeutic approaches. $1.5 million
University of Sydney Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT): Target discovery to treatment $1.48 million
The University of Adelaide Adolescents with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia: Focussing on the gut microbiota, its role in therapeutic response and potential as an effective adjunct therapeutic in this high-risk group $1.29 million
University of South Australia ABOLISH Neuroblastoma: Defining the Aetiology and underlying BiOLogy of neuroblastoma to Innovate and SHape new options for prevention, diagnosis and treatment $1.42 million
St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research Reducing tumour incidence in adolescents with germ-line mutations in RECQL4 $958,000

2020 Primary Healthcare Research Data Infrastructure Grant Opportunity
Institution Project Funding
The University of Queensland Improving surveillance infrastructure for Indigenous primary health care  $2 million
South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Limited Registry of Senior Australians: Improving Care and Outcomes in Aged Care $2 million
University of Melbourne Platform to Enhance Prostate Cancer Shared care Integration (PEPSI)
 		 $2 million
Monash University
 		 Optimising health information exchange during aged care transfers   $2 million
The University of Adelaide Imagendo: Diagnosing endometriosis with imaging and AI $2 million
Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Limited Regional collaboration to create a Kimberley Health Evidence Data Platform.  $1 million
Menzies School of Health Research Territory Integrated Care: Primary health data Linkage Using Software $2 million

2020 Improving Diagnosis in Cancers with Low Survival Rates Grant Opportunity
Institution Project Funding
University of New South Wales
 		 Microbial based biomarkers powered by artificial intelligence for early detection of liver cancer in Australia. The Australian Liver Cancer Microbiome Consortium $4 million
University of South Australia
 		 Predicting and Preventing Ovarian Cancer: a machine learning approach $1.3 million
The University of Queensland
 		 Implementing a Multivariate Index Assay for the Earlier Detection of Ovarian Cancer $2.7 million
The University of Queensland
 		 Lung cancer screening for early detection $2.8 million
University of Sydney
 		 Ready to screen. Targeting the high-risk population to improve lung cancer diagnosis $2 million
University of Western Australia
 		 The IC3 Trial: Identifying Cirrhosis and Liver Cancer in Primary Care $3.2 million
Swinburne University of Technology
 		 Solving Unknown Primary cancER Earlier Diagnosis (SUPER-ED): A stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial implementing a new model of care to support earlier diagnosis $2.4 million
Flinders University
 		 Shining Light into the “unknown” on Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians with Cancer of Unknown Primary $2.4 million

2020 Cardiovascular Health Grant Opportunity
Institution Project Funding
Monash University Statins and Progression of Coronary Atherosclerosis in Melanoma Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors $1.7 million
Monash University ECMO-Rehab: A Randomised Controlled Trial of Early Cardiac Rehabilitation to Improve Survival and Recovery in Critically-ill Patients on ECMO $663,000
Monash University New models of rehabilitation to improve work and health outcomes after stroke $1 million
The University of Newcastle Stroke in patients with large Ischaemic Core: Assessment of Reperfusion therapy Impact on Outcome (SICARIO) $1.5 million
The University of Newcastle Yarning up After Stroke $485,000
University of Sydney Safety and Tolerability of AZD6482 in Reperfusion for Stroke (STARS) $2.7 million
University of Sydney LesioLogic $1.1 million
University of Sydney Digital solutions for heart failure best practice care $937,000
University of Sydney Guardian Angel: Implementation of a peer support program for people with heart disease $656,000
University of Melbourne REACHING FOR YOUR WORDS: A Phase IIa umbrella trial of integrated UPper limb & Language Impairment and Functional Training (UPLIFT) after stroke. $993,000
University of Melbourne Improving life after stroke with tailored support: Innovation in use of national registry data $506,000
The University of Adelaide The SPRINTS Project: Stroke – Prevention of Reperfusion Injury and Neuroinflammation – a Therapeutic Strategy $2.6 million
University of New South Wales Development of novel, clinically viable strategies for reducing cardiac damage and preventing future events in myocardial infarction (MI) survivors by targeting inflammation $2.8 million
University of New South Wales CardiacAI: Deep learning to predict and prevent secondary cardiovascular events $545,000
The University of Queensland Measuring, Monitoring, and Motivating Adherence to Self-Managed Aphasia Treatment $389,000
The University of Queensland Development of drugs to prevent ischemic injuries of the heart and brain $1,499,560

2020 Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Grant Opportunity
Institution Project Funding
The University of Queensland Alignment, Harmonisation, and Results: translating Core Outcome Measures to Improve Care (COM-IC) for People Living with Dementia into Australian practice $999,000
The University of Queensland Technology Assisted and Remotely Delivered Anxiety Psychotherapy Intervention for People living with Dementia and Their Care Partners (Tech-CBT) $1.6 million
National Ageing Research Institute Drawing out care: Using animation and digital technologies to support Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) family carers and people living with dementia $798,000
Monash University Knowledge brokers for evidence translation to improve quality use of medicines in residential aged care $2 million
Macquarie University
 		 SENSEcog aged care: Hearing and vision support to improve quality of life for people living with dementia in residential aged care $1.2 million
Flinders University Creating partnership in iSupport program to optimise carers’ impact on dementia care $1.4 million
University of New South Wales Development, validation and implementation of a computerised tool to assess instrumental activities of daily living $1.3 million
Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health Blood testing to predict and discriminate dementias $4 million
University of Melbourne Music Attuned Technology Care eHealth (MATCH): A music based mobile eHealth $2 million
University of Melbourne Development and Implementation of the National Infection Surveillance Program for Aged Care (NISPAC) $998,000
University of Melbourne IMpleMenting Effective infection prevention and control in ReSidential aged carE (IMMERSE) $758,000

Indigenous Health Research Fund – 2020 Indigenous Health Research
Institution Project Funding
The University of Adelaide Working with Aboriginal families and health and social service providers to assess the feasibility of a novel care package to reduce cannabis and alcohol use and social stress in pregnancy $675,000
The Council of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Developing cultural sensitivity and capability through communication training for mental health professionals $705,000
University of New South Wales Understanding how cultural resilience impacts Aboriginal health & quality of life $560,000
University of Sydney Understanding the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and wellbeing to health: Implementation of the What Matters 2 Adults wellbeing measure
 		 $998,000
La Trobe University Healing the Past by Nurturing the Future: Trauma-integrated perinatal care to improve health outcomes for Indigenous parents and infants in a rural setting $1.5 million
University of Sydney VOICE – Validating Outcomes by Including Consumer Experience. Developing a patient reported experience measure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people accessing primary health care $1.4 million
The Sax University Indigenous Led Evaluation of Aboriginal Programs (ILEAP) $1.5 million
 

2020 COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Research Grant Opportunity – Round 3
Institution Project Funding
University of Melbourne AdaptiVax-CoV: A novel adaptable SARS-CoV2 VLP vaccine to produce broad humoral and T cell responses to S, E and M viral proteins $3 million
University of Melbourne Chimeric next generation COVID vaccines $3 million

2020 International Clinical Trial Collaborations
Institution Project Funding
Macquarie University Determining the impact of a new primary care model for low back pain: A cluster randomised trial $2.1 million
University of Melbourne The C*STEROID Trial: An international, randomised placebo-controlled trial to determine the effect of antenatal corticosteroids on newborn health when given prior to planned caesarean section birth from 35+0 to 39+6 weeks of pregnancy $2.2 million
University of Sydney RADAR: A randomised PET-adapted study of bleomycin-free treatment of early stage Hodgkin lymphoma $1.4 million

2020 Neurofibromatosis Research grant opportunity
Institution Project Funding
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumour Genomics in Neurofibromatosis 1 (MaGeN) $1.6 million
The University of Newcastle The Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) Cutaneous Neurofibroma Consortium: Identifying Genetic modifiers of disease burden to inform treatment pathways $1.6 million
Monash University Defining NF1 clinical variation at the microscale to discover new therapeutic targets $818,000
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute A randomised control trial of remote microphone listening devices in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 and central auditory deficits $599,000

2020 Traumatic Brain Injury Mission
Institution Project Funding
Curtin University An informatics approach to predict outcomes and monitor intervention efficacy following moderate to severe traumatic brain injury $500,000
University of Sydney From injury to long-term physical activity for people living with traumatic brain injury $407,000
Monash University PRECISION-TBI – Promoting evidence-based, data driven care for critically ill moderate-to-severe TBI patients $499,000
Monash University The Australian Traumatic Brain Injury National Data (ATBIND) Project $366,000
Monash University Exercise therapy for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) across the lifespan $500,000
University of Tasmania Transforming Awareness, Literacy & Knowledge of Traumatic Brain Injury (TALK-TBI) $1 million

Suspension of mutual obligation requirements for job seekers and participants in Queensland

The Morrison Government has suspended mutual obligation requirements for employment services participants in Queensland in the Local Government Areas of Townsville, Palm Island, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset and Sunshine Coast.
The temporary suspension of mutual obligation requirements for employment services participants in these areas will be in place from today, Tuesday 29 June until Tuesday 6 July 2021 inclusive.
No employment services participant in the affected Local Government Areas will face payment suspension or financial penalties for failing to meet their mutual obligation requirements, such as not being able to attend appointments or activities, or not meeting their Job Search requirement if it is due while mutual obligation requirements are suspended.
Where it is safe to do so in line with health advice, employment services participants can engage with their employment services provider.
These arrangements will apply to job seekers in jobactive, Online Employment Services, Disability Employment Services, and participants in ParentsNext and the Community Development Program.
More information about mutual obligation requirements for jobactive, Online Employment Services, and participants of ParentsNext can be found at www.dese.gov.au/covid-19/job-seekers

Enhanced support for NDIS participants in New South Wales

The Morrison Government is committed to ensuring the safety of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants during the current COVID-19 outbreak in New South Wales (NSW).
More than 61,000 NDIS participants across Australia have now received at least one dose of the vaccine. We continue to see strong growth in numbers across all states and territories.
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC, said for NDIS participants within Phase 1a in NSW, provider-led vaccination hubs are operating in North Parramatta, Newcastle, Islington and Baulkham Hills.
“In a COVID-19 outbreak where there is ongoing community transmission and extended lockdown periods, it’s been critical that we’ve been able to quickly introduce or reinstate temporary measures to support people in those areas,” Minister Reynolds said.
“The Commonwealth is now also prioritising efforts in NSW to provide in-reach for eligible residential disability accommodation located in the declared COVID-19 hotspots, Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast and Wollongong.
“I strongly encourage people with disability, their care and support workers and their carers to get vaccinated through the five streams now available to increase protection for themselves and their community.
“I’d like to thank disability service providers, support workers and carers of people with disability for their work in support of the vaccine rollout to this vulnerable group.”
In addition to dedicated disability vaccination hubs, the following measures are in place:

  • All NDIS participants aged 16 years and over and carers aged 16 years and over of NDIS participants of any age are eligible to receive the vaccine.
  • Disability workers can access the vaccine at Commonwealth SONIC vaccine clinics in Campbelltown, Sydney CBD, Macquarie and Blacktown.
  • A national support payment of $150 per participant for disability providers to assist NDIS supported independent living participants eligible within Phase 1a to attend offsite locations, including Commonwealth hubs, state clinics and GPs.
  • The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) reinstated a measure, effective from 26 June, to enable NDIS providers in declared COVID-19 hotspot areas of NSW to directly claim the cost of PPE for disability support workers in light of the current COVID-19 outbreak.
  • The NDIA also reinstated and expanded a measure to allow eligible registered NDIS providers Australia-wide to seek participant approval to access NDIS participant plan funds to claim costs for PPE used for supports delivered in person by a worker due to higher than normal PPE requirements.
  • The NDIA has continued to make available additional temporary support items (for deep cleaning, higher intensity staffing requirements, professional laundering) to assist participants living in supported independent living arrangements where additional supports are required due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
  • The NDIA maintains a Clinical First Responder capability that, as a last resort, can provide emergency intervention, clinical support and infection control should there be a COVID-19 outbreak or positive infection in a NDIS residential disability accommodation setting.

For more information on where participants and carers can receive their vaccine, visit health.gov.au/covid19-vaccines